BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) — As agreed between China and the United States, President Xi Jinping will meet with President Donald Trump in Busan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), on Oct. 30 local time to exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson announced on Wednesday. African Times has published this article in partnership with Xinhua News Agency

A high-level South African delegation is in Washington this week on a mission to rescue its ailing trade relationship with the United States. Last week, the African Union’s office in Washington convened dozens of African ambassadors to strategise a lobbying push for renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) – the key US law that grants sub-Saharan countries duty-free access to American markets. With AGOA’s expiry looming, countries across Africa are scrambling to make their case: Kenya’s top…

South Africa has fought hard to preserve its trade ties with the United States. President Cyril Ramaphosa even traveled to Washington to offer a “framework deal” that included buying American liquefied natural gas and investing around $3.3 billion in the U.S. economy.  But those overtures failed. On August 8, 2025, the United States imposed a sweeping 30% tariff on most South African exports, abruptly raising barriers on goods ranging from fruit to automobiles. The impact of this tariff hike is…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has engaged in a critical phone call with United States President Donald Trump as South Africa stares down the possibility of damaging US tariffs that could hit key sectors and cost thousands of jobs. The early morning call on Wednesday, 6 August 2025, focused on bilateral trade and came amid growing concern that Washington may soon impose punitive tariffs on South African exports — a move that could severely disrupt trade relations and push the already fragile…

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa is facing a major economic jolt as the United States, under President Donald Trump, prepares to impose sweeping tariffs on South African exports, a move that could upend trade relations, hurt local industries, and threaten jobs. The Department of Trade and Industry confirmed that South Africa has formally requested more time to renegotiate its trade terms with the U.S. — just days before the new tariff regime is set to take effect on 9 July 2025.…

The African Union Commission (AUC) has raised concerns over a new U.S. travel ban that restricts entry from 19 countries, including several in Africa. The move, announced by former President Donald Trump in a video statement, has sparked reactions from international bodies and civil society voices alike. Twelve countries now face a full ban, including Chad, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, and Sudan from the African continent. Another seven countries, such as Sierra Leone, Togo, and Burundi, face partial restrictions. Trump defended…

Borders that are crisscrossed more frequently by trade in goods and services are less likely to be besieged by soldiers and other armed elements, buttressing the fact that trade dividends are not just related to development, growth, and prosperity, but also include peace and mutual understanding through dialogue among civilisations. With the proliferation of regional free trade areas across the world, it is without doubt that trade makes concrete contributions to the economic growth of many countries, and trade promotion…

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has once again defended his government’s decision to visit the White House last week, where they met with US President Donald Trump and his top administration. Ramaphosa says South Africa has always regarded the United States as a strong investment and trading partner. He defended the trip in an open letter to South Africans dated 27 May 2025, which was posted to the state website for circulation. Ramaphosa stressed that the two countries and economies…

Afrika Day is yet to know its dawn. The poor, seldom listened to or seen to matter, are on the verge of giving up on their hopeless dreams due for burial to waiting yawning graves to swallow to final rest that found no peace in their lifetimes. When Viola Davis said ‘when you are poor no one sees you, you are invisible’, it seemed a fleeting moment of an award acceptance speech of a film star.  Not only are the struggling masses…

Dear Fellow South African, Last week, I undertook a successful working visit to the United States at the invitation of President Donald Trump to strengthen relations between our two countries. The delegation that accompanied me included a diverse range of South Africans, with representatives from Government, business, labour and the sporting fraternity, all united in advancing our country’s interests. South Africa has always regarded the United States as a strong investment and trading partner. Our countries and our economies are…